Huntsville gazette., 1887-01-08
HOUSED AT LAST.
The Frisco Express Robbers Be-
hind the Bars in ST. Louis.

hind the Bars IN SJ. Louis.
Most of the Money Returned to the Express
Company-story of the Robbery Told by
Wittrock, alias "Jim Cummings"
--Eotneringhasn 1uneee.sr- ".
sr. LOUIS, Jan. lit was just half-past
eight o'clock when the second section OF
train No. 4, Missouri Pacific, from Kansas
City, rolled into tbs Union depot. The
blizzard was raging furiously and Fred
Wittrock, known to fame as jim Cum
mings, could consistently say "it was
cold day when he got left" No sooner
had the wheels stopped turning than the
Pinkerton party, led by 'Bob," stepped
out of the sleeper Genoa. After "Bob"
came Operatives Ed Kearney and William
Wilbasky, with "Jim'' between them.
Superintendent Damsel, Secretary Me-
lay, Marshall Mcdonald and re-
porter made up the rest Of the party
When the piercing wind struck the prison
er he pulled his slouch hat down over his
eyes, turned up his coat collar and grasp
ing his yellow leather valise with firm
grip, walked rapidly with his escort to-
ward Poplar street On reaching the
street Wittrock, Bob Pinkerton and two
of the operatives jumped into carriage
and were driven to the office of the Adams
Express Company. Mr.. Pinkerton and
his prisoner stepped into the office, where
valise containing about $4,000 of the
booty was returned to its rightful owners.
The carriage was again called into requlsl-
ton, and five minutes later the party
entered the Four Courts. Wittrock
als Ia
he was formally introduced to Chief Hue
bier by Mr.. Pinkerton.
The most peculiar feature Of Wittrock's
makeup is the manner in which he carries
his head 1t nearly always inclines to the
left, due to some spinal affection. He was
dressed in heavy, dark overcoat, check
ed sackcoat and vest and jean pantaloons.
There was no jewelry, no diamonds nor
other ornaments to which the professional
thief is partial when he has ''stuff."
The prisoner was turned over to an Of
fcer and was taken to the Central station,
where he said his name was Fred. Witt
rock, twenty-six years Of age, single and
born in Canada. He was searched and
five dollars, an open-face silver
watch and half dozen punches
of cigarettes were found in his
possession He submitted worry quietly to
the searching process, not uttering word
or paying any attention to the throng of
people surrounding him. He was taken
down to the calaboose and Mr.. Pinkerton
ordered a breakfast from Hoeffner's for
him. After breakfast he was visited by a
reporter and asked to make full state
ment of the conception and execution Of
the robbery. He weighed every question
deliberately, laughed occasionally, and did
not talk or appear at all like a man for
whom the future had sack-cloth and ashes
in store. He said:
sSThere are some things that | can not
talk about have made promises not to
speak on certain points, but it will come
out in day or two.n
'Have you made full statement to
Pinkerton!"
II don't like to say any thing about that
don't like to say any thing that will in
jure my friends. To begin with, Pl say
here that Farthingham is innocent, and
my only object in writing the letters was
to prove his innocence. | didn't know him
before the night of October %, though
had heard his name I've seen it since
published Fotheringham, but had it from
good authority that his name was Earth
ingham. Another thing-the woman had
nOUnlnp 10 no Will bulo JOU Aul D 1lii ~
knew nothing about it; Haight knew moth
ing about it when the thing was DONE" +:
"Can YOU tell me of the occurrences on
the cXprcss car on the night of October
25?"
''That is one Of the points on which
can't talk | want to say about Cook; he
didn't know anything about it until | gave
him money"
'Is Wittrock your right name"
''Yes, / am twenty-six years old, born II
Canada and moved to Leavenworth in
1869. | went to school there and for six
years kept books for Burdette q Hise. Mr..
Burdette is prominent Odd-Fellow.
left LeavenWorth about two years ago and
went to Chicago, where ! went into a small
coal business. / am not a married man,
though my neIghbors in Chicago thought
was | came to ST Louis about week be-
fore the robbery and rented room at Mrs.
Berry's. Weaver was with me, but few
days before the business was done he
| weakened and went back to Chicago.
went by the name of Williams at Mrs.
Berry's. l see it is said that Cook was
with me there, but that is a mistake Cook
was in Kansas City at the time"
"Are the statements of Moriarity truefi
'What are they?"
s'He says he was offered inducements to
go into the scheme, and for $1,000 would
tell all he knew"
"Well, if he said that, he is dirty
scoundrel. It's true that he promised to
assist me, but when the time came he
weakened and wouldn't keep the appoint
ment, When l made up my mind to do
the work | picked cut the smallest mes
senger on the road to hold up His name
was Hart, and l would have got him only
for the porter, who stopped in the car un-
til after it had started. That was the
Wednesday before the Monday the job was
done. Next night l didn't know Fother-
ingham's name, and had to wait until
Monday to fix things. Then Weaver weak
ened, and, though tried my best to stiffen
him up it was no use, and he skipped
back to Chicago. I made up my mind to
go it alone, and so about seven O'Clock
that night I went down to the depot. 1t
was kind of rainy, and kept shady, and
didn't speak to any one.n
''Did you speak to Wabash engineerl'
sNo, ibid not. He is mistaken, or else
he is lying, if he said | spoke to him.
walked to the express car and got in the
side door,
1.-THE engineer says Fotheringham helped
Won in -